‘Earn it’
- Updated: February 1, 2023
Alexandria’s Ross chooses preferred walk-on route to Alabama, looks forward to chance to prove himself with elite program
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
ALEXANDRIA — Antonio Ross announced his college choice Wednesday to quite a roar in Alexandria High School’s Larry R. Ginn Gymnasium.
The gathering of coaches, teammates, classmates and family cheered like Alabama just scored a touchdown.
Who knows what kind of applause his initial school choice would’ve won him, and Ross hopes to prove that maybe the Crimson Tide did score with him.
The one-time Liberty commit who decommited when Hugh Freeze left Liberty to become Auburn’s head coach turned down full-scholarship offers from “Group of Five” schools and accepted a preferred walk-on offer with Alabama.
Ross’ decision to take the PWO with Alabama comes a day after Alabama coach Nick Saban announced he turned away two recruits seeking more than $1 million in NIL money, including a 2023 defensive back seeking $800,000.
Ross, also a 2023 defensive back, has a different approach.
“I’m going to walk in and earn it,” he said. “I’m not just going to feel like I have everything given to me or, like, I’m a big dog.
“I’m going to walk in and make sure I earn everything.”
Ross is a first-team all-state and All-Calhoun County pick. He was the preseason choice for Class 4A-6A all-county player of the year.
A running back/defensive back/kick returner in high school, he rushed for 1,381 yards and 26 touchdowns. He accounted for 1,904 all-purpose yards and 28 touchdowns.
On defense, he had 72 tackles (32 solo) and two interceptions.
Ross’ scholarship offers included Jacksonville State, UAB, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Memphis and Tulane. He took visits to most of them.
His recruiting outcome is a story that’s become common in the time of the NCAA transfer portal and extra seasons granted to college athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He committed early and thought a contract extension would keep Freeze at Liberty. Once the coaching change happened and put Ross back on the market, the portal season was underway, with college coaches hunting players with college experience.
Ross called his recruiting road “stressful.”
“I tried to not stress about it it too much,” he said. “I’ve got basketball going on, so I kind of use that as a distraction.
“I talked to my family about it many times and … I just waited it out, and I got the PWO to Alabama.”
Ross said he expects to cover some of the cost of school through Pell Grants and other scholarships. He hopes to eventually do it with a football scholarship.
“One thing about Antonio, he doesn’t do it lightly,” Alexandria coach Todd Ginn said. “He thinks about things, and I could tell it’s been on his mind in the past week and a half. You could just tell.
“I think he struggled with it, but at the end of the day, he’s where he wants to be, and I’m happy for him. He’s a really good player, and we’re going to miss him.”
Cover photo: Alexandria’s Antonio Ross dons an Alabama cap and shirt as Alexandria coach Todd Ginn (left) and family members look on during Wednesday’s signing-day ceremony in Larry R. Ginn Gymnssium.
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